EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) 鈥� Victor Lindel枚f’s wife fell off a raging bull 鈥� a mechanical one.
Maja Nilsson Lindel枚f Thursday of herself getting tossed from the bar-based bovine while Sweden was playing in Texas during the World Cup, adding: 鈥淪till a bit drunk while posting this, might delete later.鈥�
鈥淪he sent it to me,鈥� Sweden captain Victor Lindel枚f said Monday ahead of his team’s round of 32 match against two-time champion France at the World Cup. 鈥淚t was a fun video and it would be fun to try it out, as well.鈥�
Founder of the fashion brand Lis Bonne Atelier, Maja married Victor in 2018, when he was with Manchester United. In the 59-second video, she first climbs the bull backward, alights to consult with friends before remounting. She holds on for a while before getting tossed onto her back.
Victor Lindel枚f said he would be willing to try to match her feat.
鈥淚t looked difficult, but I鈥檓 up for the challenge,鈥� he said.
After , and , Sweden earned the matchup with France, a tournament favorite that topped its group with three straight wins.
鈥淲e have to play the game of our lives, clearly, and the boys are in a really good place, I think, to be able to do that,鈥� Sweden coach Graham Potter said.
Lindel枚f, who turns 32 next month, shifted from his usual spot on the backline to defensive midfield against Japan. Potter praised his leadership.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy to deal with a 5-1 defeat in a tournament. It can destabilize a lot of teams,鈥� Potter said. 鈥淪o the fact that we had the strength and the ability to get the point we needed against Japan and perform in the manner we did says a lot about the environment and the culture of the team. I think that鈥檚 a lot to do with Victor鈥檚 leadership. So I鈥檝e been super-impressed with that since I鈥檝e been in the team.鈥�
Lindel枚f was especially pleased his children will attend Tuesday’s match at MetLife Stadium. His wife posted photos Monday from Times Square in New York.
鈥淚鈥檝e been looking forward to having this opportunity and we were able to resolve it in the end so that they鈥檙e here in New York,鈥� he said through a translator.
Lindel枚f started several matches in midfield this spring for Aston Villa. Shifted to midfield against Japan, he left in the 87th minute because of leg cramps.
鈥淚t’s a huge difference between playing in the midfield versus playing in defense. You have to be moving constantly,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I can handle 90 minutes in the midfield. I don鈥檛 t know if I鈥檝e got the legs for that anymore but it鈥檚 fun to play there. Let’s see if I can handle 90 minutes of that.鈥�
Isak Hien injured and will miss match against France
Defender Isak Hien will miss the match with a hamstring injury that forced him from last Thursday’s game against Japan in the 37th minute.
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